Never ever leave your kids in the car

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THE grieving mother of two toddlers who died after the car they were in caught fire has made an emotional plea: "Never, ever leave your

children in the car."

Sulie Averiss and her boyfriend Damien Moore, both 20, spoke up less than 24 hours after their children, three-year-old Shannon and 14-month-old Ciaran, died when a fire broke out in the engine of their Vauxhall Cavalier in Colmworth Close, Lower Earley, on Thursday.

Miss Averiss and Mr Moore had popped into their friend's house in the quiet cul-de-sac to get her pay for a cleaning job.

Fighting her emotions, Miss Averiss said: "Cherish your kids."

Parents recount horror of fire

SULIE AVERISS can remember seeing her young children, nicknamed Shazbucket and Kiki, happy and apparently safe in her car.

The two toddlers, Shannon aged three, and 14-month-old Ciaran, looked and waved at her as she looked out of a window to check they were alright.

However, seconds later Miss Averiss and her boyfriend Damien Moore were horrified as they saw their white Vauxhall Cavalier filled with smoke and their precious children trapped inside.

Despite frantic efforts to pull them out and resuscitate them, the two children died on their way to hospital in a double tragedy - apparently caused by an electrical or mechanical fault - that has left both parents broken-hearted.

On Friday, less than 24 hours after the accident, the two 20-year-olds bravely recounted what had happened as they appealed for other parents to never leave their children in the car.

Flanked by the children's grandmother and a friend, Miss Averiss told how she had gone to Colmworth Close in Lower Earley to pick up wages earned by cleaning the house.

A friend at the house had offered the unemployed mum some money but she wanted to work for it, she said.

She and Mr Moore intended to pop in and pop out of the townhouse and she said: "I said to my two kids, ‘I will be two minutes'.

"I put the seatbelts on, locked the doors and went into my friend's house.

"He gave me my money and I asked to quickly borrow the toilet.

"I looked out to make sure they were okay. They waved back at me.

"Then I finished. I came down and the car was full of smoke.

"Damien pulled the children out of the car to try to resuscitate them. It was too late."

"Cherish your kids. You never know what you have lost until it's gone."

Detective Superintendent Steve Morrison said it appeared the fire had started in the engine compartment of the Cavalier but admitted: "We may never get to the source, if it is an electrical or mechanical source.

"The forensic examination is still ongoing.

"The post-mortem results have not yet been confirmed but the cause of death is likely to be inhalation of smoke for each child."

Police are also tracing the history of the Cavalier to see if that gives them any help discovering what sparked the fire.

Det Spt Morrison said: "Thames Valley Police would ask for all parents and carers to consider this tragic matter.

"Children should never be left in cars, even for a short time."

A spokeswoman for the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children said today: "We would back Miss Averiss' call.

"This is a terrible tragedy and we would urge parents to never leave their children in the car."